Eskom ramps up load shedding – here’s the new schedule
Eskom announced that stage 4 load shedding will be implemented from 16:00 today until 16:00 on Monday (13 March).
Stage 5 load shedding will then be implemented until 05:00 on Tuesday.
“The pattern of Stage 4 loadshedding from 05:00 to 16:00 and Stage 5 loadshedding from 16:00 to 05:00 will be repeated.” said Eskom.
The embattled power utility said that over the past 24 hours, a generating unit at Arnot Power Station was returned to service.
During the same period, a generating unit each at Kriel, Medupi and Tutuka power stations were taken offline for repairs, Eskom said.
The company added that the return to service of a generating unit each at Duvha, Medupi, Tutuka and two units at Hendrina power stations has however been delayed.
According to Eskom, breakdowns currently increased to 17,008MW of generating capacity while 4,600MW of generating capacity is out of service for planned maintenance.
The repairs to the damaged towers from Cahora Bassa in Mozambique are continuing and are anticipated to be completed by early next week, it added.
Although the energy crisis has taken the front seat of South Africa’s politics and multiple initiatives, have been implemented. Analysts and researchers at the large point to no short-term reprieve from rolling blackouts.
Recent data from the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) showed that relative to 2022, 2023 has been the worst load shedding on record.
The research firm expressed worry over the fact that when looking into 2022, South Africa’s summer months had the worst levels of load shedding despite being periods of low demand.
Winter months – which start from around June – typically see the highest demand, said the BER.
This puts Eskom and the government on a tight deadline to address the crisis before the winter months kick in.
The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, 12 March
- Stage 4: 16h00 to 00h00
Monday, 13 March
- Stage 4: 00h00 to 16h00
- Stage 5: 16h00 to 00h00
Tuesday, 14 March
- Stage 5: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 4: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 5: 16h00 to 05h00
Wednesday, 15 March
- Stage 5: 00h00 to 05h00
- Stage 4: 05h00 to 16h00
- Stage 5: 16h00 to 05h00
According to Eskom, this pattern will continue until further notice.
Schedules
For people living in the major metros, load shedding schedules are available here:
- City of Johannesburg
- City of Ekurhuleni
- City of Tshwane
- City of Cape Town (PDF)
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- eThekwini
- Manguang
- Buffalo City
For access to other load shedding schedules, Eskom has made them available on loadshedding.eskom.co.za.
Smartphone users can also download the app EskomSePush to receive push notifications when load shedding is implemented, as well as the times the area you are in will be off.
Read: Things are looking very, very bad for load shedding in South Africa
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